Electrician install, maintain and repair electrical systems in homes and businesses. They are also responsible for complying with all relevant electrical safety regulations. They are also skilled at reading electrical drawings and schematics, and are able to diagnose any problems with electrical circuits or wiring. An electrician’s career path typically begins with an apprenticeship, which provides a combination of hands-on work experience and classroom learning.
After gaining some work experience, graduates may wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from a university that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Alternatively, some electrical engineers opt to complete a master’s or doctorate in the subject. Completing these graduate degrees may open up management positions that are not available to those who have only a bachelor’s degree.
Some electrical engineers choose to specialize in a particular field, such as microelectronics, control engineering, or power engineering. The specific area of specialty can affect an electrical engineer’s job outlook and salary, as some fields are in high demand while others are not. For example, those who choose to become a microelectronics engineer will focus on electrical systems and devices that operate at the microscopic level, while those who decide to become a power engineer will be responsible for the generation, transmission, distribution, and utilization of energy in electricity grids. Regardless of the specialization, all electrical engineers must be able to use their theoretical knowledge and practical experience to design, build, and improve electronic devices and electrical systems.